St. John’s Lafayette Square in conversation with demonstrators

St. John’s Lafayette Square spoke with the DC Department of Religious Affairs about how it can serve Black Lives protestors, and when it can reopen the church.

WUSA9 reports:

Local activist Jay Brown said there was concern among some protesters that the church had called for the removal of protesters during a meeting it had with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office.

Brown met with church officials Tuesday at Black Lives Matter Plaza to find a solution.

According to Reverend Rob Fischer, the rector of St. John’s, the church had actually met with the DC Office of Religious Affairs to discuss how the church could work to better serve protesters and possibly reopen its doors in the future.

…

Brown says some protesters will look at ways to work together with St. John’s in the future. “We want to have dialogue and conversation about how we can move forward,” he said.

…

A very small group of protesters did vandalize part of St. John’s Monday. However, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, said such acts should not take away from the bigger issue at hand. “I don’t think it’s necessarily the most fruitful way to make your point,” she said. “At the same time, there’s no equivalent with the destruction of bodies that you can’t get back.”

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Tralee Duncan

June 29, 2020 1:12 am

I have a hard time believing that Bishop Budde didn't bring some of this on herself. I believe both Bishop Curry's and Bishop Budde's comments about the President using St. John's as a publicity opportunity was much more about their disdain for the President than their concern the bible and church were used as a publicity stunt. As leaders, like someone or not when there isn't something nice to say you shouldn't say anything at all. The fact is there are some good peaceful demenstrators, mixed in with intending rioters. Who don't respect anything, not even a church. BLM activest Shaun King called for the destruction of Jesus Christ status and churches. BLM leader Hawk Newsom stated "we will burn this system down if we don't get what we want." Maybe Bishop Curry and Bishop Budde should come out against BLM as not a reasonable, peaceful, and non-violent group to better race relations.

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